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How to undo a Windows settings change
If you know what you changed, change it back in the same place in Settings. If you don't, or a tweak tool changed the registry, use System Restore to roll Windows back to a restore point from before the change, if one exists.
The hard part is usually knowing what changed. Windows doesn't keep a list of the settings you or your apps have changed, and registry edits have no undo unless you exported the key first.
With System Restore
- Search Start for Create a restore point and open it.
- Choose System Restore, then Next.
- Pick a restore point from before the change. Scan for affected programs shows what will be removed.
- Confirm. Your PC restarts. Your personal files aren't touched, but apps and drivers installed after the restore point are removed.
System Restore must have been turned on, and a restore point made, before the change. Many PCs have it off by default.
How RIVET does it
Everything RIVET changes is previewed first and written to History with the value that was there before. Windows settings, startup apps and service start types can be undone even after RIVET is closed and your PC restarted. Before putting a value back, RIVET checks it is still the one RIVET set; if something else changed it since, RIVET tells you and leaves it alone. Stopping or restarting a service can be undone while RIVET is open. Cleanup and ending a process can't be undone, and RIVET says so before you confirm. Each row in History says which kind it is.
Questions
Can I undo a registry change?
Only if you saved the previous value, by exporting the key or with a restore point. RIVET saves the previous value of every setting it changes, so it can put it back.
Does System Restore delete my files?
No. It doesn't touch documents, photos or other personal files. It removes apps, drivers and updates installed after the restore point.
Can RIVET undo changes made by other apps?
No. RIVET can only undo changes it made itself, because those are the ones it recorded.